System of electrical distribution.



J. 0. LUTHY.

SYSTEM 0T ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

APPLICATION FILED TEB.36,1U13.

1,080,355. Patented Deo.2,1913.

TH# T Tf m ew WTNESSES NI/ENTOR."

UNITED STATES JOSEPH O. LUTHY,' OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

SYSTEM 0F ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented I) ec. 2, 1913.

Application filed February 2G, 1913. Serial No. 750,860.

To all whom t may concern.'

De it known that I Josemi O. Lu'rnr, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing at San Antonio, county of -Bexar, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful In'iprovements in Systems of Electrical Distribution; and I do hereby declare the following to be a iull, clear, and exact description of the invention, snch as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malte and use the same.

rlhe invention relates to systems ol electrical distribution wherein the electrical energy is sup )lied to a circuit or circuits, which inclue translating devices, initially at a voltagein excess of that for which the translatingr devices are designed, in such manner as to produce a maximum ellicicncy in the translating devices and at the same time to eliect a material saving of electrical energy so that the translating devices, such as incandescent lights, or the like, may be maintained at the normal rate of operation, viz. luminosity in the case of electric lights, under conditions of materially reduced current consumption.

To this end, the invention involves t-he supplying of an electrical circuit or circuits, including the translating deviceswith current ot successively varying voltages between a given maximum and mininnnn, to wit from a maximum to a minimum voltage and vice versa, and rapidly reversing the order of the voltage variation in the circuit, so that while the average voltage during one period of variation, either increasing or decreasing, is below the voltage required by the translating devices when operating under normal conditions of uniitorm voltage, the conjoint cllect of the abnormally hic'h voltage on the one hand, and the abnormally low" voltage on the other, will produce the desired normal el'lcct or result in the translating devices with a. material saving or economy in the watt consumption o't electrical energy by the translating devices.

Vhile the invention is applicable to a single circuit containing a number oil' translating devices, a more economical result is attained when it is applied te two circuits, or an even number of plural circuits equally divided, so that while the voltage is being successively diminished in one circuit or scrics ot circuits, it is being simultaneously .increased proport-iollately in the other correspmufling circuit or series of circuits, thereby nnposing un even distribution of the load on the generating plant at all times and .admitting of the rapid reversing of the order oit: increase and decrease in the respectivel circuits or sets of circuits wit-hout causing any fluctuation in the total load.

The invention is capable of successful application with currents of any character, either alternating or direct, and supplied by any of the ordinary sources o'l': generation, and the particular' cmliodiu'ient olf the invention illustrated in the accompaning drawings is to bc regarded as exemplary only and in no sense limiting.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view cit two incandescent light circuits supplied from an alternating current source by means oit lransiormcr npmnalns, involving a special form ol current distributing apparatus within contemplation'of thc invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the typical voltage variation in the respective circuits.

The invention will first be described with reference to its application hy means of the apparatus illustrated, which, as indicated, is to be regarded as exemplary merely, of one device for carrying out the generic method of distribution involved.

.ieferrng to the drawings, the numerals l and 2 represent the leads ot an ordinary alternating current circuit which are connected in parallel with the primaries 3, 3' of two transformers, the sccondaries of which are indicated by the numerals ll, ll. One terminal ol each ol said secundarios is connected with a. common lead 50 to which are connected one terminal oi each of the several translating devices, illustrating,Y in the drawings as two banks oft incaiulcscent electric lights .fe and y. The secondary ol cach of the transformers is subdivided into sections by means of leads or taps so dis posed that current varying in voltage say from 100 as a maximum to Ii() as a minimum may be taken oli as desired. rl"hc seconda ry #l is designed to supply the current. to the bank ot lamps m, and similarly the secondary Ll supplies the bank ol lamps ;1/, the order ol supplying t-he respective banks bcingsuch that while secondary t is delivering a voltage which rapidly decreases from the maximum el 160 vo ts to 30 volts to the bank of lamps a', the secondary '4t' is simultaneously bank between the enti-emes indicated., the

voltage in the other vbank of lights is being proportionately. -and simultaneously augf mented. 'lhis action is eii'ected by means ol a rapidly rotated distributingdrum v21 which is provided with two sets of slip rings 23 to 30 and 23' to 30' respectively, which are engaged bycorrespond-ing sets of brushes 13 to 20 and 13'- to 20 respectively, the brushes 13 to 2() being connected to the terminals of the'sections of secondary l of the left-hand transformer by mea-ns of leads 5 to 12 inclusive and the brushes 13' to 20' being correspondinglyconnected to the terniinals of the sections of the secondary Ll' et the right-hand transforiner by leads- 5' to 12 res] 3ectively.l The slip rings and their associated brushes may be applied to the surface olf the drum 21 in any desired arrangef ment, but. the arrangement shown in the drawings has been found to be both eliicient and econon'iical. The surface of the drum is like-Wise provided with a series of separate contacts vfor each series of slip rings, arranged generally like'the commutator bars of a generator. As illustrated, there are two series of circumferential ly arran ged conductor. segments or bars, each seriesconsisting. oi fourteen bars or segments, eight of which are indicated in each set, lthose to the lett of the. mid-section of the drum being indicated by reference numerals 33 to 40 inclusive, while those to the right are indicated by reference numerals 33 to 40' inelusive. Each of the segments 33, 34., 35, etc., is connected by a. suitable lead to one of: the slip rings 23, -2li, 25, etc., and simultaneously, each of the segments 33', 3ft', 35', etc., is connected to a corresponding slip ring 23', 2st', 25", etc. Cooperating with the respective series of segments are brushes 31., and 31', the former of which is connected by a lead 32 to a common lead 5.1 to which the other terminals o1 the translating devices ai are connected, and the lait-ter of which brushes 31 is connected by a lead. 32' with the corresponding lead 51' from the other bank of translating,devices y.

'llie operation olf the 'apparatus as described is as follows: The drum 21 is rotated ata high rate of speed by nie-ans Voi. sui table mot-ive power applied to shaft y22 thereof, which causes the einn'mutator segments to pass rapidly into and out of contact with the' mum, that in the 'circuit supplying lights'g] is cerresl'iondingly increasing from the mininnlmf-O to the maximum-160. In the posip tion of the parts shown 1n the drawings, the' bank of lights a isre'ceivmg 'current at 160 i'folts'lron'r the whole transformer secondary it hy'fway of' lead 5, 4brush 13, slip ring 23,

cen'nnutator segment 33, brush 31, lead '32, conductcn '51 through the lamps :v in' parallel, common'conductor50, back 'to the other terminal of 'the' transformer secondary 4. At 'the san'ejtilne, :the bank of lightsy is re` cei'vilng current of 30 volts from Athe first -section o1 4the.transformer l by way of lead 12', brush 20', slip ring 30', commutator segmentttl', brnslrl', lead 32', conductor 51', through the lights y in 'pa-rell'el, thence by iva-y of con'imo-n conductor 150 back to the other terminal of secondaryvl'. When the 'eomnn'itator seg'nent 3st passes under brush 33, the current having a voltage of 140 will be delivered to' the bank of la'm'ps a: b'y way of lead 6, br`usl1 lit, slip ring 24, -commntat'or se-gmentet, brush 31 etc., and at'the same time, the leads '-g/ wilt receive current at at() volts :trom the secondary .4." by-w'ay oli' lead.

11', brush 1.9', slip 'ring 29', com'mu'tator segment .39', brush 31', etc. 'Similarly as-the successive segments' en' the respective ends of the' drum passu'inler the' brushes 31 and 31', 'the voltage of' the current :supplied te the bank of lamps (v will be successively diminished from 120 to 30 volts, while the current supplied to the bank of lamps y will be si'iccessiv'ely' and 'correspondingly increased troni-t3() volts to 1GO volts. Then the drum has made onclhalt" revolution, the variation oi' the 'volti fie in the two banks oit lights will have imssei` through the normal cycle designed fer ,the particular machine, namely from 1G() volts to 30 volts in the bank' a: and fron1'3t) volts to 1G() volts in the bank y, and while the drum 20 is traveling through the second halt oit' the complete rewilution, the

ular reversal of theprder of -variation is elected with great rapidity due to the speed of rotation of the drum 21, the two banks of lights will be ma intained at a steady degree of incandescence quite as effectively as if they were supplied by a current of steady and uniform voltage, but at a watt consumptio-n per lamp much lower than is possible it t-he same circuits were supplied by a current ol uniform voltage, the saving in eurrent in some instances amountine' to at least c)" i .U i a pci cent. with the lamps bmnlng steadily at their normal degree of incandescence. For example, with. the type of apparatus illustrated in the drawings, in which the t'ansformers deliver a current varying in voltage from 1GO as a maximum to a minimum of 30, the lamps employed are of the ordinary standard 110 volt type and have been successfully operated without any unsteadiuess or flickering and at their normal illun'iinating power under a current consumption 25 per cent. less than that rcquired by the same nun'iber of lamps when supplied by a current having a steady and normal voltage of 110.

lt will be understood, of course, that the voltage limits indicated, as Well as the character and capacity of the translating devices are merely exemplary and may be varied to meet the varying conditions of commercial operation. For example, the voltage impressed upon the circuits of the translating devices might be varied from the desired maximum to zero and vice versa, but when lamps or similar translating devices are employed, it is found desirable to maintain some voltage on the circuit or circuits at all times. By making the successive variations in the voltage low, sparking between the brushes 31, 3l and the cooperating commutator segments is elilrlinated, so that the apparatus successfully obviates the serious objection to the rapid making and breaking of a commercial circuit, inasmuch as the highest voltage that can be developed under the brushes will not exceed that represented by,

the difference between the voltages of adjacent cmmnutator segments, which, in the excmplilication shown, is never more than 20 volts.

While the invention, in both its aspects as a method and an ap liaratus or system ttor applying said" method, has been illustrated and described as involving an alternating current source and one or more transformers, it will be understood that. the invention is not limited in this respect, but is equally applicable to a direct current source, such for example, as a direct current dynai'no electric generator, a series of primary, or secondary electric cells associated with means tor successively and regularly lvarying the voltage of the current delivered between any predetermined limits and reversing the order of the voltage fariation between the respective circuits o't the translating devices. In the case of a dynamo electric machine, the result may be attained by successively cutting in and out graduated, varyingv resistances, preferably lights or other translating devices, so that the voltage delivered to the ultimate consum )tion circuit or circuits will vary according y, and in the case of a battery, the cells or elements thcreol may be cut in and out of the circuit or circuits successively and to the same end, but inasmuch as such ar 'angements and disposit-ions of the necessary apparatus to etfect the desired result will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in view of the foregoing description, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate other forms of apparatus for carrying out. the invention.

A further advantage of the method as described, involving the successive variation of the voltage between a given maximum and minimum, admits of the invention being applied to step down or reduce a current, especially of the direct type, to a lower etleetive voltage. For example, if an appara-tus ozl" the kind indicated were employed with an initial voltage of' 1,000 and this voltage were successively reduced to 250, the average voltage delivered lo the translating devices would be 625, which would eilect an operation of the translating devices under the couditions of econo-my hereinhefore indicated, and because of the extremely rapid variations in the volt-age, no injury to the translating devices would result from the high initial voltage, because the latter would not be maintained, under any conditions, for any more than thc brie'fest interval of time.

What I claim is:-

1. The method oit distributing electrical energy to translating devices, which consists in supplying said devices with current, the voltage of which is iu excess of that normally required by said translating devices, successively varying said voltage between predetermined limit-s, and rapidly reversing the order oit the voltage variation.

2. The method ol distributing electrical energy to a plurality ot t 'anslati11g-device circ-nits, which consists in supiilying said circuits with current, successively decreasing the voltage in one ot' said circuits and simultaneously and proportionalely increasing the voltage in the other ol said circuits, and rapidly reversing the order of voltage variation in the respective circuits.

3. The method ol distributing electrical energy to a plurality ot translatiiig-device circuits, which consists in supplying said circuits with current, the maximum voltage of which is in excess of that required by the translating devices, successively decreasing the voltage in one of said circuits and sinrulx I A ltmleously and correspondmgly increasu'lg 'c11'c1.|1i'.s, sal-1d meclw-msm mdudug means the voltage'm the other clrcut, and rapl-dly. fur mpldly reverslug the order of voltage revel-smo' the order'of voltage vurmtlon- 1n mrmltloxf 1n szud C11-cults.y

b q l l n n therespectnc cu'cmts. l .111 testlmony whereof I affx my Slg-nature, 5 L Apparatus for dlstrllmtmg-electncalm presence of two wltnesses. 15 v energy .to a plumllty of translat-mgdevce )O SE1-)H O LUTHY circuits, comprising-u, soul-ce of supply, andmechzuusm mterposed between sind source Wltnesses:

and said ACircuits.' for slilc'ce'ssvely and i11- i, \u'111 tm.'LBMANT, 10 versely Vurymg the voltage 1n the respectlve C11-AS. J ON mLL.

Copies of this patent may-be obtanc for 'v cents. each, by-'ad'es'sng the "Oommissio1'1e1'-of latents.

Washington; D502 

